Cipher-code system.



Patehtedsept. n, |900..

No. 657.536.V

LF. cAssEL. CIPHER CUDE SYSTEM.

(Application lsd Max'. 10, 1900.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES y,PATENT OFFICE.

.ELMER F. ASSEL, ,oFsisATrpn WAsrnns'ron;

CIPHEl'z-.ooinlil SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part gf Letters Patent No. 657,586, dated septembern, 1900.

d pltanos slealrarch 10, 190el To all whom, it mag/concern,.-

Be it known that I, ELMER F.' CASSEL, of Seattle, in the county of Kingeand State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cipher Code. Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cipher-code systems for use in transmission of cable, telegraphic, and other forms of written messages.

v The invention has for one object the production of a simple 'and concise cipher-code system whereby liability to error in transmission is reduced to a minimum or entirely overcome.

A further object is to provide a cipher-code system which can `loe readily and easily comprehendedand accurately used by a novice in the making up and deciphering of ciphermessages.

A further object is to produce a simple and concise cipher-code systemlwhich is particularly applicable for the transmission of tabulated matter.

A further object is to produce a ciphercode system whereby the general code is readily convertible without complicated rules or mechanism into a private code for Ause between twoor more individuals.

A further object is to provide a cipher-code system which is so flexible in its application as to be susceptible of universal employment.

In carrying out my invention I employ a system of cipher-words, one portion of the word being used to designate .the group-7l. e. the page, column, or section-containing the ,desired message, and the other portion of said word indicating the line ordeiinition on said page, column, or section embodying the message to be transcribed, the Whole forming a complete arbitrary cipher-word without literal meaning and forming the key by means of which the desired message can be readily and quickly located in the code-book.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

i In the accompanyingdrawings, Figures l Serial No. 8,153. (No specimens.)

and 2 are views of pages from my improved cipher-code system. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are 1 similar` views of modifications. g

Referring to the drawings, A A represent consecutive pages of .my improved ciphercode system. On each page,pref,erably near one corner thereof, is placed that portion B of the cipher-word which is designed to indicate the particular page upon which the message is found and by which said page is known, it being understood, of course, that each page is designated by a separate and distinct word `or syllable. Each page contains aseries of definitions C, arranged in lines, as shown, and opposite each line is placed that portion D of the cipher-word by which the particular line is designated. The two portions B and D when united form a complete cipher-word without literal meaning and in such form that the receiver can readily and quickly find the desired deiinition in the code-book. The portions D of the cipher-word are arranged in columns on each page, as at E. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the portion of the cipher-word indicating the line may be the' same for the corresponding line on each page, regardless of the num ber of the pages or the delinitions therein contained.

While I have illustrated and described the denitions C as contained on separate pages,

yetit is obvious that,if desired, different setsA of definitions may be arranged in columns on one page, said columns being designated by that portion B of the cipher-word which I have described as being used to designate the Page- I In Eig. 3 I have shown a slight modification of my improved cipher-code system, this form being designed more particularly for use in connection with tabulated Work. In this form that portion of the cipher-word F indicating the line is employed in the same manner as in the form heretofore described, and in lieu of the definitions a series of dimensions G are arranged on the same line therewith. d, Corresponding with said dimensions are a series of measurement Gr', the same being arranged in columns H, as shown. In lieuof designating each page by a portion of the cipherwordthe latter is applied to each column H, as indicated at I, accomplishing the same result. The code illustrated in Fig. 5 is de- IOO .y illustrated in Fig. 3.

' Tell.

for the transmission of numbers forany purl pose whatever. The numbers are preferably arranged in lines J and range from 000 to 999, "each line being .designated bya por-ifi tion of the cipher-word, as heretofore described. vSaid numbers are also divided into columns K, each column being designatedby a portion of the cipher-word, as in the form When it is desired to transmit a number, the same is written down by the operator and divided from the right in groups of three figures, the ordinary method of numeral notation. The ci pher-word of the first of said groupsfrom the left is then written, the same being made up of the portionsY indicating the line-and column. This is followed by the cipher-word for the next group, and so on untilthe entire number is writ- For example, assume that the number 1,009,195 is to be written, the'same would be indicated by the following cipher-Words: SnackfallStackfall Shackilit. If desired, vthe sulnx ing or some similar symbol may be added to each of the first two cipher-words to indicate that the figures designated by the next cipher-word are part of the same number. Should this system be followed out, the foregoing number would be indicated as follows: Snackfalling Stackfalling Shackflit. From what has been said it will be readily. perceived that by means of my improved system any conceivable number can be accurately transmitted and the use of a voluminous code, as isnow the practice, is entirely obviated.

In the form illustrated in Figs. l and 2 when a cipher-message is transmitted the de- 'sired information is indicated by an arbitrary cipher-word, which is made by uniting that portion B indicating the page with that portion D indicating the line containing the desired definition, or when the othe'l` forms are employed the cipher-Word is formed by compounding the portion indicating the column with the portion indicating the line.

in connection with the transmission of numbers. v To illustrate the former, it will be assumed that the following message is t-o be transmitted, to wit Your letter received. Will wire full particulars. Said message would be contained in the two cipher-words Dumbfall Dawnflip, the irst portion of each word indicating the page containing the delinition orl phrase and 'the second portion the line on said page containing the message. It will be particularly noted-however, that while I have described the nrst half of the cipher-wordA as indicating the page or'column and the -latter `half the-line, yet these may be transposed without departing from the spirit of my invention. Y f f YYThe..advantages of my improved ciphercode system are apparent. It' will be par- .ticularlynoted that lthoseeparts of the cipher-- g 'words' used to de'sign'atethe lines of the page, column, or section can always remain the saine." WA'riother important advantage' lies in the conciseness of myimproved system." For instance cipher-codes now in general use employ'a'diii'erent cipher-word for each deiinition-orlitem rto be transcribed. Thus it ,will be seen that la code containing twenty- ,.fiv' thousand ,dfilltionswould requilehe f selectionA of a "corresponding number of crpher-"wordsx It isobvious that the selection of such a large number of words which will be free from error in transmission, particularly telegraphic transmission, is practically impossible. lies in the fact that Va cipher-word to be abg solutely accurate and intelligible must be arbitrary and not easily mistaken for other than a cipher-word-vl. 6. itwmustlbe abso- 'z lutely Without literal meaning in the body of a message. cipher-words now in use consists merely of an aggregation of letters, anda very'large por- ,tion of these are so arranged as toghe peculiarly susceptible oferror in telegraphic transmission, as is wellgknownto those who l make constant use of ciphers in the transaction of business. v system a cipher-code of twenty-tive thousand `The principalV reason for' `this A very large percentage of the By means of my improved definitions can be constructed withthe use of but five hundred and fifty word parts or syllables, which latter" ycan be obviously selected with especial VKreference to accuracy in transmission by telegraph. In other Words, a code consisting of five hundred pages of fifty lines to a page would contain twentyfive thousand definitions requiring tive hundred page or column Words or syllables and fifty line words or syllables. Inasmuchas the cipher- Word is formed by uniting the portion of the word indicating the page or column and that indicating the line to form a compound Word designating the deiinition,

The words or syllables thus used and Welliunderstood meaning, for the reason that such meaning is absolutely destroyed just as soon as any two of them are united -into one completecipher-word. Aside from this, however, its very lconstruction would designate it as a cipher-word.

One of the greatest causes of error in tele- IOO IIO

lit will lbe readily seen that the same fifty line words or syllables can be employed Von each page. canbe selected from words of'every-day use I2C An 'illustration of the latter has been given I It is also apparent that myimproved ciphereode system can be readily changed into a form for private use by substituting new words or syllables for those already in use indicating the page or column, or substituting new Words or syllables for those indicating the lines, or the latter may remain the same and their positions varied, all of which is contemplated by my invention. cipher-code also contemplates the substitution of numbers or figures in lieu of words or syllables for designating the pages or columns and the definitions therein contained.

I claim as my inventionl. A cipher-code in which words or sylla-A bles capable of literal translation are so compoundedV as to form a complete cipher-word Without literal meaning, as set forth.

2. A ciphercode in which single code Words or characters are formed of two united parts or syllables indicating respectively a denition and a group of definitions, as set` forth.

My improved 3. AcipheI-#code consisting of a series of groups each indicated by a word or syllable and containing a series of definitions, each of Which latter is also designated by a Word or syllable, said Words or syllables when united forming a cipher-Word without literal meaning, as set forth.

y 4. A cipher-code consisting of a series of groups each indicated by a Word or syllable and containing a series of definitions, each of which latter is also designated by a line word or syllable, said line Words or syllables being the same for each group, arbitrary cipher-Words being formed by compounding said page and line Words or syllables, as set forth. Y

In testimony whereof I havesigned this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. f

ELMER F. CASSEL. Witnesses:

WM. S. HoDGEs, GRAFTON L. MCGILL. 

